Amazing Grace
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On Friday, March 10, 2023, staff from King Lewey Resort came across a turtle about 5 miles off the coast of Placencia. She was observed floating at sea and unable to dive and stay down. The concerned citizens recognized she was in need of care and retrieved the turtle from the sea, brought her to the resort and then transfered her back to Placencia.
ECOMAR coordinated the transfer of the turtle in close collabroation with the Belize Fisheries Department. The turtle was received by Erica Holding who ensured the turtle was secure and then Crocodile Research Coalition (CRC) picked up the turtle in prepation for transfer to Belize City. On March 11, the CRC team attemped to release the turtle off the beach to see if she was able to dive down, but she was not and so they retrieved her from the sea and plans were made to transfer her to Belize City the following day. |
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When the turtle arrived in Belize City she was visited byb Dr Jayne Crawford of the Animal Medical Centre and then transfered to St George's Caye for initial observation and treatment. She received Gas X and fluid therapy. Four days after receiving Grace we took her for a swim in the ocean at the Sand Bar. Initially she swam down to the sea floor, but she could not stay down and floated back up to the surface. She expened a lot of energy to swim and try to stay down and was extremely tired when we recaptured her and returned to our facility on St George's Caye.
On March 18 we transfered Grace to our rehabitation facility that has been setup in Belize City at the Belize Fisheries Department compound along Princess Margaret Drive. Upon arrival in Belize City she was transfered to Animal Medical Center for radiographs and bloodwork. Her fluid therapy continued and she was prescibed antibiotics for possible infection for two weeks. Grace was offered a variety of food including turtle grass, romaine lettuce, cucumbers, sprat, shrimp and squid. When food was offered she did not accept. A feeding bar was placed in her tank which was placed turtle grass collected from the shoreline.
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Less than one month later Gracie returned to Animal Medical Center for a second set of radiographs and bloodwork. Presented below are images of the results.
Xrays |
Blood Chemistry |
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Xrays are the best tool we have available in Belize to see insided sea turtles. The cat scan machines available in country are not large enough to accommodates adult sea turtles. This image shows gas and a possible blockage in the intestines.
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All incoming turtles get bloodwork. We were able to get two samples tested and compare the results below.
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Based on the latest series of radiographs, on April 15 Gracie was prescribed a laxative, metoclopramide, which she will receive every 3 days. She will resume antiobiotics on April 18, which are prescribed every 3 days.
Due to the higher levels of white blood cells (WBC) in the second blood sample, we will also collect blood for a culture of bacteria to assess possible sepsis.
Due to the higher levels of white blood cells (WBC) in the second blood sample, we will also collect blood for a culture of bacteria to assess possible sepsis.
We continue to hope that Gracie will recover and can return to the sea. We are not sure what is wrong with her, but we know that if she cannot dive, she would not be able to eat, and could be more vulnerable to boat strikes or take, floatinig at the top of the sea.
